Bentley Bids Farewell to V-8 With Edition 8 Continental GT, GTC and Flying Spur
Bentley is saying cheerio to its long-serving V-8, celebrating the engine with a series of Edition 8 packages available on the Continental GT coupe, Continental GTC convertible and Flying Spur sedan.
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Edition 8 models ride on 22-inch wheels and are available in more than 60 paint colors from Bentley’s Mulliner premium palette. All wear the brand’s Blackline Specification, which replaces all of the exterior brightware with dark chrome. Inside, the Edition 8s feature upgraded seats with unique palm fluting, meaning the vertical seams fan out toward the top of the seat like a palm tree’s drooping fronds.
Bentley applies Edition 8 badges to the front fenders of the Continentals and the Flying Spur’s D-pillar. The logo also adorns the sill plates and is embroidered in the seatbacks. Additionally, Edition 8 models feature self-leveling center caps that keep the Bentley B emblem upright as the wheels turn, LED welcome lights and the company’s hefty billet-aluminum “jewel” gas cap.
Next Steps
Bentley says it will begin delivering Edition 8 models “imminently.” So what will power the next generation of Bentleys? It’ll be another V-8. But this one, which Bentley is calling an “Ultra Performance Hybrid electrocharged powertrain,” is part of a plug-in hybrid setup. Bentley says it’ll produce more than 740 horsepower and will be capable of driving some 50 miles on electric power alone.
It’s a safe bet that the Ultra Performance Hybrid electrocharged powertrain is related to the plug-in hybrid powertrain in the recently announced Lamborghini Urus SE, which generates 789 hp and has a claimed electric range of nearly 40 miles. Since the tests used to determine official electric-range estimates for the U.S. market differ from those overseas, it’s likely that the U.S. figures will be lower when the vehicles go on sale.
It’s also a safe bet that both powertrains are derived from the one in the 729-hp Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid. Bentley also recently introduced a plug-in hybrid system for the Bentayga and Flying Spur, but that’s built around a V-6.
So, while the Edition 8 means we are leaving non-hybrid Bentley V-8s behind, it seems there will soon be at least three 700-hp plug-in hybrid V-8 SUVs on the market. Cheerio, non-hybrid V-8.
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